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Happy Friday!
January 10, 2025
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With the inclement weather of last week, our team stayed off the icy roads—hopefully things clear up and we can continue our mission for
Clean Energy the Right Way.
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2025 Legislative Reception and More!
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As the 2025 Virginia legislative session kicks off, we’re thrilled to announce Energy Right’s clean energy initiatives through our highlight event—the Energy Right 2025 Legislative Reception. This event will take place on January 22nd at the Omni Richmond Hotel from 5-7pm. We are so pleased with last year’s turn out, drawing industry leaders, local officials, and state legislators to discuss the future of clean energy in Virginia.
This year’s reception will not only reaffirm our dedication to legislative success but also celebrate the incredible milestones we’ve achieved. It’s a testament to our commitment to impactful legislative participation, setting the stage for significant accomplishments this session and beyond.
We’ll also be bringing back the Conservative Energy Caucus at the General Assembly. This year, we’re hosting six caucus meetings featuring multiple guest speakers who will share insights on new developments, upcoming votes, and emerging partnerships between farms and the future.
For more information on sponsoring Energy Right’s 2025 Legislative Reception or getting involved in our caucus meetings, reach out to Dylan Taylor at dylan@energyrightus.org. If you would like to RSVP to our reception, our contact form can be found on our website on our page for the 2025 Legislative Reception.
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Scott County Leads the Charge
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On January 2nd, 2025, the Scott County Board of Supervisors approved a 4-megawatt, community-scale shared solar installation, paving the way for increased county revenue, local energy infrastructure upgrades, and direct savings for Appalachian Power customers in Scott County. This decision exemplifies the leadership needed as Virginia approaches the 2025 General Assembly session where discussions on meeting the Commonwealth’s growing energy demands will be crucial.
By engaging in candid discussions with stakeholders, adding specific conditions to permits, and ensuring projects meet or exceed local ordinance standards, other counties, like Scott County, can further better themselves and lead by example as energy independent leaders. This balanced strategy allows for regional and statewide growth and investment while maintaining the power for localities to scrutinize future proposals individually. As Virginia’s General Assembly prepares to tackle energy issues, it’s crucial to recognize the value of responsible local decision-making in renewable energy projects, ensuring that solar energy development benefits both local communities and the Commonwealth as a whole.
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Rye Cove, Scott County, Virginia
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This week, our team stayed back from the icy roads, but we’ll be meeting with more counties next week!
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FROM LAST YEAR’S RECEPTION
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2024 Legislative Reception
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Last year’s Legislative Reception was a fantastic milestone for us and the community to reach together, and as always, we are always impressed with how receptive and engaged local community members and those who travel to the events are. We can’t wait to see new and familiar faces alike this year and for all of those who can’t make it, we’ll be sharing photos soon enough!
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Virginia Republicans’ questions on solar siting bill preview 2025 legislative fight
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The Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) mandates that all electricity in Virginia must come from carbon-free sources by 2050, but local resistance to projects like solar farms has slowed progress. Proposed legislation includes creating a nine-member state board to evaluate “critical connection projects” of 20 megawatts or larger, or smaller projects on previously disturbed lands, with local representatives participating in the review process.
During a recent Commission on Electric Utility Regulation meeting, concerns about public transparency and citizen input were raised. However, there was agreement on allowing appeals through the state court system rather than the State Corporation Commission and prioritizing previously disturbed lands over agricultural ones for development.
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NEXT WEEK
We’ll be heading out to Brunswick, Scott, and Washington Counties! Fingers crossed the roads stay safe and ice-free.
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As Virginia’s legislative session begins, central and southern Shenandoah Valley lawmakers, including Dels. Tony Wilt and Chris Runion and Sens. Mark Obenshain and Chris Head, aim to revise the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) to address growing energy demands. Proposals include broadening energy sources to include nuclear and hydrogen, replacing the 2050 deadline with emissions intensity targets, and allowing natural gas plants as transitional options. Additionally, legislators will focus on supporting local businesses, clean water initiatives, and affordable housing, while advancing measures like foster care reforms and transitioning the Virginia Museum of Transportation into a state organization.
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